Lord Loves A Working Man “Lord Loves A Working Man” [self]

Lord Loves A Working Man — or Lord Loves for short — is a 9-piece band (with 4 alternates) based in San Francisco’s Mission district. This self-titled, self-released CD is a studio recording from 1/2005.

This isn’t a Rush cover band, like I hoped when I saw the cover. Even better, it is horn-driven soul and vintage R&B, music that they clearly love and respect. 8 of the 10 songs are their own compositions. The two covers are Clay Hammond‘s I’ll Make It Up To You and Curtis Mayfield‘s Hard Times.
Ben Flax‘s vocals are earnest but always on the right side of over the top. The horn section, rhythm section, and rest of the band are in tune and on time.

My only complaint about this CD is the songs they picked to record are too slow and ballad-y. The band simmers but never boils. I want to know that the drummer is working his ass off, and I want to hear this horn section unleashed and playing something more interesting than block chords.

3, 5, 7, and 9 are instrumentals
–Hunter Gatherer